McCullough (17-6), a former WEC lightweight champion, recently signed a three-fight deal with Tachi Palace Fights and will return July 9 in a 160-pound catchweight bout against Thomas Denny (27-18) at Tachi Palace Fights 5, a source close to negotiations today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

McCullough has not fought since a decision loss to Karen Darebedyan this past November at WEC 44.

Since the setback, McCullough served a stint as Tito Ortiz’s striking coach on “The Ultimate Fighter 11″ and tended to his newborn son, who arrived in March.

McCullough, 32, won the WEC title in January 2007 and defended it once before he lost the belt to Jamie Varner 13 months later. He has hopscotched between wins and losses after the loss of the title and spent much of late 2009 benched with a hand injury he suffered during a fight with Marcus Hicks at WEC 39 (he won by majority decision).

His knockout of Olaf Alfonso at WEC 19 is a staple of the promotion’s early days in Lemoore, Calif.

Denny fought most recently this past August, when he defeated Joe Cronin by submission at Called Out MMA 1. Prior to that, he dropped two straight fights to legend Pat Miletich and current Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz.

Tachi Palace Fights set up shop this past October at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino when Palace Fighting Championships vacated the venue after a yearlong stay. The WEC held court there for more than seven years beginning in June 2001.

(Pictured: Rob McCullough)

Steven Marrocco is a staff reporter for MMAjunkie.com and an MMA contributor for The Vancouver Sun.

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